PEACE INTRIGUE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 March 1940, Page 5

PEACE INTRIGUE

NO BACKING BY UNITED STATES PROSPECT OF TOTAL WAR. ANTICIPATION OF STERN DAYS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 9.20 a.m.) RUGBY, March 18. Commenting on President Roosevelt's speech the “Yorkshire Post” says: “It puts an end to all the rumours that an immediate outcome of Mr Sumner Welles’s European tour would be a German peace offensive, backed by the United States. It is crystal clear that President Roosevelt has no intention of lending his authority to any such dubious intrigues.” The “News Chronicle’’ says: “As things stand the possibility of peace with the present rulers of Germany seems remote. We must therefore prepare for the worst, with all the vigour and nerve at our command. If the expected peace initiative should fail, we must be ready for total, war. The first air raid this weekend on territory of Britain is a pointer to stern’ days ahead.” A report to the Press Association from Brennero says that Herr Hitler met Signor Mussolini at the little alpine village in a train of eight coaches drawn by two engines. The talks were scheduled to begin at 9.45 a.m.in one of the coaches fitted out as an office while the train stood at the

station, which is decorated with Fascist and swastika flags and a red carpet on the platform. AMERICAN ENVOYS AUDIENCE WITH POPE. (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) ROME, March 18. The Pope gave an audience lasting fifty minutes to Mr Sumner Welles and Mr' Myron Taylor. They arrived at the Vatican in a car not flying either the United States or the Papal flag. FACT FINDING ONLY MR SUMNER WELLES’S JOB. (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) WASHINGTON. March 18. The Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, told a Press conference that Mr Sumner Welles has not participated in negotiations among foreign powers. He had adhered strictly to fact finding-.